| HAUSER,
Samuel Thomas, seventh
territorial governor of
Montana
(1885-87), was born at Falmouth,
Pendleton co.,
Ky.
Oct. 10, 1833
, son of Samuel Thomas and Mary Ann (Kerrnett)
Hauser. He was educated at schools in his native state. He removed to
Missouri
in 1854, and was engaged as a civil
engineer on the Missouri Pacific railway and Northern Pacific railway.
In 1862 he went up the
Missouri river
to
Fort
Benton
, and prospected the upper
Columbia
waters, returning to Bannack mines In
the fall. In the following year he explored the Lewis and Clarke route
down the
Yellowstone
. In connection with N. P. Langford, in
1865, Mr. Hauser opened a bank in
Virginia City
,
Mont.
, and also in that year erected the
first furnaces that were operated in the territory. In 1866 he organized
the first National Bank of Helena and the St. Louis Mining Co., now
known as the Hope Mining Co., at
Phillipsburg
. He built the first silver mill in
Montana
, and organized the first national banks
of
Missoula
,
Butte
and
Benton
. He constructed the branches of the
Northern Pacific in
Montana
, now known as the Northern Pacific and
Montana
railroads. He also organized the Helena
and Livingston Smelting and Reduction Co., and is its president. He is
actively interested in stocks and mining and various other enterprises.
His name has been identified with the development of the state during
the past twenty-five years, and much of its present prosperity is due to
Gov. Hauser's energy, push and enterprise. During the pioneer days of
Montana
he had many thrilling experiences and
narrow escapes, when the outlaw element terrorized the state. This
condition of affairs led to the organization of a vigilance committee
(1863-64), of which he was a prominent member, and he took an active
part in seeing that justice was meted to the outlaws. He was a Democrat,
and has always been actively interested in politics. In 1885 Pres.
Cleveland
appointed him governor of
Montana
, in which capacity he served for two
years. Since retiring from office he has devoted himself to the
management of his extensive business, spending much of his time in
New York city
. He was married, in 1871, to Ellen P.,
daughter of Dr. Bernard Farrar, of
St. Louis
,
Mo.
, and has one son.
Source: Montana
, its story and biography : a history of aboriginal and territorial
Montana
and three decades of statehood, by E
Munson
,
author.
Submitted by JoAnn Scott. |